Wrench.



J. M. DENHAM.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED Aua.9, 1915.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

ATTORNEYS IINITFJD JAMES M. DENHAM, OF GUERNSEY, CALIFORNIA.

WRENCH.

Application filed August 9, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES M. DENHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Guernsey, in the county of Kings and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in lVrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches, and more particularly to the hand grip, sliding jaw lever and pawl feed type wrench.

The object is to simplify and improve the construction and operation of a device of this character.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the following drawing, in which- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal, central sectional view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same.

Referring in detail to the drawing, it will be seen that the wrench there shown comprises a stationary jaw 10, carried on a shank 11, upon which shank is slidably mounted a jaw 12 by means of a loop 13. Pivoted to the sliding jaw, at 14, is a link 15, which is in turn pivoted at 16 to a pawl 17, which pawl cooperates with ratchet teeth 18 formed on the front edge of the shank 11. A handle lever 19, U-shaped in cross section, embraces, slidably, the shank, cross ing the same with a bifurcated head 20, which head is pivotally connected to the pin 16 which connects the pawl and link.

A leaf spring 21 lies fiat against the outer edge of the pawl and is held in place between the sides of the head by pins 22 and serves to maintain the pawl normally in engagement with the ratchet teeth. The pawl has a tail portion 23 spaced from the adjacent edge of the shank to perm1t the operator to insert his thumb and manipulate the pawl.

In the operation of this device, the distance between the jaws 10 and 12 is adjusted through the pawl and ratchet teeth, and the handle lever may be moved to the angular position shown in Fig. 1 to slide the movable jaw away from the stationaryjaw, whereupon the wrench is applied to a nut or pipe, and the movement of the handle lever toward the shank, pivoting about the point of engagement of the pawl wlth the ratchet teeth as the operator turns the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. as, 19th.

Serial No. 44,390.

wrench in a direction to manipulate the pipe or nut, causes the slidable jaw to be moved toward the stationary jaw, thereby firmly gripping the member to be turned. By slightly relaxing the grasp on the lever and shank, the slidable jaw will release the ob ject and permit the wrench to be moved backward for obtaining a fresh grip.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a wrench, the combination of a ratcheted shank carrying a fixed jaw, a movable j awon said shank, a link pivoted to the movable jaw, a spring-pressed pawl pivoted to the link and coiiperating with the ratchet teeth on the shank, and a handle lever having a bifurcated head crossing said shank slidably movable thereon and pivoted to the poilnt of connection between the pawl and in z.

2. In a wrench, the combination of a ratcheted shank carrying a fixed jaw, a movable jaw on said shank, a link pivoted to the movable jaw, a spring-pressed pawl pivoted to the link and cooperating with the ratchet teeth on the shank, a handle lever having a bifurcated head crossing said shank slidably movable thereon and pivoted to the point of connection between the pawl and link, and a tail on said pawl spaced from the adjacent side of the shank to permit the operator to insert his thumb for releasing the pawl from the teeth of the ratchet.

3. In a wrench, the combination of a ratcheted shank carrying a fixed jaw, a jaw slidable on said shank, a link pivoted to said slidable jaw, a pawl pivoted to said link and cooperating with the teeth of the ratchet on said shank, a lever handle having a bifurcated head crossing said shank and embracing the sides thereof and slidable thereon, said bifurcated head being pivoted to the point of connection of the pawl with the link, and a leaf spring lying against said pawl and held in place thereon by means of pins extending between the sides of said head. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. DENHAM. Witnesses:

J. W. FERGUSON, WALLACE COLLINS.

fiopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

